Machine for inserting fasteners.



H. A. BALLARD. MACHINE FOR INSEBTING FAsTBNERs.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.28.1909.

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H. A. BALLARD. MACHINE FOR INSERTING FASTENERS.

APPLIGATIOH TILED JAN. 28, 1909.

Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

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UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

HARRIE A. BALLARID, F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE BOYLSTONMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SOUTH BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A ('JORIOIRJATION OF NEW MACHINE FOR msEETiNs FASTENERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

Application filed January 28, 1909.1 Serial No. 474,668. i

To all whom may concern:

Be it known that I, Hanum A. Bantam), of Boston, in the county ofSuffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented cer tam new andusetul. Improvements 111 Ma chines for Inserting Fasteners, of which thefollowing is a specification.

a delivery throat through which a driver passes. In machines of thistype it isde-.

sirable thatfthe tack occupying the throat should be supported thereinuntil. such time as the driver descends to drive it into the work. Thetack 18, n some 1Tl2L0l11116S,S111I)- ported by the tack-pick whichunderlles the i head. of the tack, and which is adapted to be displaced.In this case the usual manner of displacing the pick is by means of thehead of the driven tack which engages a beveled edge formed thereon:This method is objectionable in that the pick is subjected to verysevere blows and wear, and becomes useless forthe purpose aftercomparatively little usage. The usual manner of controlling a machine ofthis type is to cause it to stop when the delivery throat is in the lineof the driver and with a tack occupying the throat. In such case theorder of operations is as follows :first, driving of the tack andreturnofl the driver, then relative movement of the pick and race inorder to place another tack in the throat, and occupancy of the throatbysome tack-supporting member until displaced bythe action of I thedriver. i i

According to the present invention the delivery throat isfarthostfromthe line of the driver when the machine isat a state of restand the order of movements is as follows :first, relative movement ofthe pick and race for the purpose of feeding a tack into the initiallyunoccupied throat, then retraction of the pick in a line transverse tothe feeding movement, and then projection and retraction oftho driver.

The chief object of this inventionis to support the tack by means of aretractory pick until the instant when the driver starts,

and to provide means tor retracting the verse section oi. the wholemachine.

pick at this instant, before the tack is engaged by the driver.

Other features of the invention are herematter descrlbed and clanned,and are lllusj trated upon the accompanymg drawings which show one formin which the invention may be embodied.

Figure 1 represents a frontelevation of this invention. Fig. 2-represents a top plan view of the tack-feeding mechanism in oneposition. Fig. 3 represents a similar plan view of another position.Fig. irepresents a longitudinal section of the delivery end of the race,with a tack pick corresponding in i position to Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 4: but corresponding in position to that of Fig. 3. Fig.6 represents a trans- Figs.

7 and 8 represent respectively a side elevation and front elevation ofthe tack-feeding mechanism. Fig. 9 represents a section snnllar to Fig.4: wlth the additlon of a series oftacks. Figs. 10 and 11 are horizontalsections of the tack-feeding mechanism and correspond in position toFigs. 2 and 3 respectively.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts wherevertheyoccur.

The essential parts of the machine are the frame 12, power shaft 13,tack-race 14, a tack retainer 15, tack pick 16, driver 17 tack reservoir18 and tack elevator 19. One

end of the race is filled with tacks a by the laterally through thedelivery end of the race, is formed for the receptionotthe tack pick,and the tacks are advanced oneby one into the throat 20 by transversemovement of the race or pick, one with relation to the other. In thisform of machine the raceis moved and the pick is stationary except ashereinafter specified. One wall. 22 ot the versely of the raceand ismounted m bearings formed in a bracket 26 affixed to the frame 12. Therod isinstalled soasjto be movable endwise and also about its axis, butis normally held in one position by a spring 27 which tends to move itboth along and about its axis. The spring is connected to the hanger bymeans of a radial pin or arm 28 and to a fixed pin 29 in the bracket.The limit of axial movement of the hanger is determined by the bearing30 which acts as a stop for the arm 23, while the limit of rotary motionis determined by the wall 22 in the tack-race.

The upper end of the race 11 is secured in the taclrreservoir 18 and issupported thereby. The reservoir is mounted on trunnions 31 about whichit is adapted to oscillate. The reservoir is provided with an arm 32carrying a roll 33'which occupies the groove of a cam 34 atlixed on theshaft 13. By means of the cam the reservoir and race are oscillated soas to move the throat 20 to and from alinement with the driver 17 Thecam 34 is so formed as to be of no effect while the driver 17 is in thethroat. Lateral movement of the race is caused to impart movement of thepick longitudinally of the race by means of a lever 35 havin thecharacteristics of a cam. Said lever (see Figs. 2, 3 and 7)v is mountedon the bracket 26 by means of a fulcrum 36. One end of the lever has afinger 37 which is confined between the race and a strap 38 aifixedthereon, in a manner similar to a pin and slot connection. The other endof the lever has a straight edge 39 and an inclined edge 40 adjoiningit,

both of which are adapted to engage the arm or pin 28 of the tack-pickhanger. Then the throat of the race is farthest from the path of thedriver (Figs. 2 and 10) the edges 39 and 410 of the lever 35 aredisengaged from the pin 28. In this position the pick is held by thespring 27 in a line intersecting the throat 20, (see Figs. 1 and 9) butwhen the throat is moved into alinement with the driver (Figs, 1, 3, 8and 11), the inclined edge 39 strikes and moves the pin 28 and sodisplaces the pick from the throat. The adjacent ends of thecomplemental members 15 and 16 are inclined and arranged so to engagethe shank of the foremost tack in the race and advance it into thethroat. The tack (see Fig. 9) after being ad anced to the throat dropsuntil its head engages the foremost edge of the member 16, which is cutback very slightly, as shown in Fig. 10, at 7). At this time theinclined edge 40 strikes the pin 28, thereby retracting the pick. It ispreferable that when the race comes to a state of rest with the threatin alinement with the driver, the pick should be clear of the threat butstill as close to it as possible, (see Fig. 11), the pin 28 should be.at the point where the edges 39 and 40 meet, (see Fig. 3), and thedriver should start to descend.

The driver here shown is the type which is actuated in one direction bya spring 11, and in the other direction by a. segmental piece 4-2 whichrevolves with the shaft 13 and engages a block 43 on the driver bar 44:.

If, through any defect in a tack or in the operation of the tack-feedingmechanism, a tack should stick or become dislodged in the pick, the pickwould be able to move laterally with the race and so avoid the liabilityor. becoming bent or broken. In this case the rod 25 of the pick hangerwould be moved axially in its bearings against the tension of the spring27. Such movement of the pick would in no wise ailect the angularposition to which the pick is retracted because the straight edge 39 isparallel to the avis of the rod 25 when the race is moved to drivingposition.

The elevator 19, which deposits tacks in the upper end of the race, iscylindrical in form and has a hub 45 which is mounted on a transverseshaft 46. One side of the elevator is open and surrounds an annularflange 47 on the reservoir so loosely as to permit the aforesaidoscillation of the reservoir. The reservoir is also open at this pointso that the contents may be enabled to gravitate into the elevator. Theelevator is formed with a circular series of internal buckets 4.8 and itis revolved so as to cause the buckets toelevate the tacks and dischargethem upon the upper end of the race. For revolving the elevator. it isprovided with an external gear, 19 which is driven by a pinion 50 on oneend of a trans verse shaft 51. The shaft extends through a bearing 52 onthe frame 12 and has on its other end two collars 53. Between thecollars is a worm gear 55 and a helical spring 54. The gear 55 is drivenby a worm 56 on the shaft 13, and imparts movement to the shaft 51 bymeans of the frictional connection due to the spring 541. The elevatorisprovided with another gear 57 which may be employed to drive a stripperfor removing the excess tacks from the race. 1

Having thus explained the nature of my said invention and described away of constructing and using the same, although without attempting toset forth all of the forms in which it may be made or all of the modesof its use, I declare that what I claim is 1. A machine of the characterdescribed comprising picking means movable about an aXis and movablelengthwise of said axis, a tackdelivering device and means for effectinga relative reciprocation of said device and said picking means.

2. A machine of the character described comprising picking means movableabout an axis and movable lengthwise of the axis, a stop for limitingrotary movement, a stop for limiting lengthwise movement, yielding meansfor holding the picking means normally against both stops, atack-delivering device and means for edectinglrelative reciprocation ofsaid pickingmeans and said tack-delivering device.

3. A machine of the character described comprising a tack race, apickwarranged transversely of the race, means for effecting a relativemovement ofthe race andpick transverselywof the race to separate the endtack in the race,means for mounting said PlClCgtO move about an axistransverse tothe tack race, and means for moving said pick about saidaxis to release a separated tack.

to be fed by the pick, and means actuated by the race formloving thepick.

6. A machine of the character described comprising a tackpick movable indirections transverse to each other, a movable tack race for supportinga tack in position to be fed by the pick, andmeans actuated by the racefor moving the pick in one of said directions.

7. A machine of the character described comprising a tack pick movablein trans verse directions, a stop for limiting movement in onedirection, a tack race, a stop on the race for limiting movement of thepick in its transverse direction, yielding means for holding the pick innormal position, and means actuated by the race for moving the pick inone direction.

8. A machine of the character described comprising a tack race and tackpick, one movable relatively to the other for feeding a tack, said pickbeing otherwise movable transversely of the feedingmovement, andactuating mechanism for causing, first, a

feeding movement, then a movement of the ingof a tack, then a retractionof the pick from thetack, then movement of the driver, retrograderetractory movement of the pick, and retrograde feeding movement.

10. A machine of the character described comprising a driver, aninitially distant tack race movable to and from the path of the driverfor feeding a tack, a threat in the race, a retractory tack pickadapted. to cooperate vvlththerace to feed tack 1nto the throat andsupport it there, and meansfor retracting the pick from the tack at theend of the feeding movement.

comprising a tack race, a tack-pick, one movablerelativelyto the other,and means actuated by 1 the picking movement oi. the race and pick formoving the pick transversely of said picking movement.

p12. A machine of the character described comprising a tack race, atack-pick, said race and pick being relatively movable, and

means actuated by transverse moveim out oi.

one relatively to the other for moving the pick longitudmally of therace.

13.'Amach1ne of the character described comprising a tack-race, atack-pick, one movable relatively to the other, a transverse face in therace,yielding means for supporting the pick against said face, and meansactuated by transverse relative movement oi the ace and pick forretracting the pick from said face. i

14. A machine of: the character described comprising a tack race,picking means movable both longitudinally and transversely of the race,a stop for limiting longitudinal movement, a stop for limitingtransverse movement, and yielding means for holding the picking meansnormally against both stops.

15. A machine of the character described. comprising a tack reservoirand a tack elevator coiiperating to form a tack chamber, and a tack raceaffixed to said reservoir in position to receive tacks from theelevator, said elevator being movable about an axis, and said reservoirand race being othorivise movableas one, in combination with a tackpick, and power-actuated means for moving said tack race and reservoirrelatively to said pick to cause the separation of a tack 1 by the pick.

.11. A machine ofthe character described 16. A machine of the characterdescribed comprising a tack elevator and a tack reservoir movable aboutdiflerent axes, said elevator and reservoir cooperating tO-TEOIIIH atack chamber, and a tack race movable with said reservoir and arrangedto receive tacks from said elevator, in combination With a tack pick,and power-actuated means for moving said tack race and reservoirrelatively to said pick to cause the sepa 'ation of a tack by the pick.y l

17. A machine of the character described, comprising driving devices, atack-race having a delivery throat, a tack-pick, said race and pickbeing relatively movable to feed a tack into the throat, means foreffecting rclaof the driving devices and of the tack being driven tocause said pick to release such tack.

18. A machine ofthe character described comprising a tack-race and atack-pick, one movable relatively to the other for feeding tacks, andmeans operable during the tackpicking movement for moving saidpick torelease the tack during the latter part of the picking movement. 7

19. A machine of the character describedf comprising a tack reservoir, atack-racel rigidly supported by said reservoir, and a tack elevatorcooperating with said reservoir to form a tack chamber, said elevatorbeing movable about an axis, and said reservoir and race being movableabout an axis substantially transverse to the elevator axis, saidelevator and race being so related that the one is adapted to dischargetacks upon the other, in combination with a tack pick,

and power-actuated means for moving said tack race and reservoirrelatively to said pick to cause the separation of a tack by the pick.

20. A machine of the character described comprising a tack-race and atack-pick, one movable relatively to the other, means for causingrelative movementthereof to separate a tack, and means operative by suchrelative movement for causing the pick to release the separated tack. v

21. A machine of the character described comprising a tack elevator anda tack reservoir cooperating to form a tack chamber, said elevator beingmovable about an axis and having a circular opening concentric to saidaxis, said reservoir having a discharge mouth arranged in said opening,and a tack race supported by said reservoir in position to receive tacksfrom said elevator, said reservoir and race being movable about anotheraxis. i

In testimony whereof I have aifixed my signature, in presence of twowitnesses.

HARBIE A. BALLARD.

\ Vitnesses:

GEORGE T. ARMSTRONG, M. E. CAPEN.

copies of this patent may be.obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe -t!rimmluioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. r

